Missouri Compromise

Definition

The Missouri Compromise was a legislative agreement passed in 1820 that aimed to maintain the balance between slave and free states in the United States. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while simultaneously admitting Maine as a free state, which preserved the delicate political balance and set a geographical boundary for slavery in the Louisiana Territory at the latitude of 36°30′ north. This compromise highlighted the growing tensions over slavery as labor systems evolved, particularly regarding indentured servitude and slavery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Missouri Compromise was a response to the application of Missouri for statehood in 1819, which raised concerns about the balance of power between slave and free states.
2. The compromise established a line across the Louisiana Territory (36°30′), north of which slavery was prohibited, except for Missouri.
3. It was largely crafted by Senator Henry Clay, who sought to ease sectional tensions between the North and South.
4. Although it temporarily settled disputes over slavery, the Missouri Compromise set a precedent for future conflicts regarding the expansion of slavery.
5. The agreement was ultimately rendered ineffective by subsequent legislation like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed states to choose whether to permit slavery.

Review Questions

• How did the Missouri Compromise attempt to address the issue of slavery in new states and what were its immediate political implications?
  • The Missouri Compromise attempted to address the issue of slavery by allowing Missouri to enter as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state, maintaining a balance between free and slave states. This legislative solution aimed to ease sectional tensions in Congress and prevent conflict over slavery as new territories were formed. However, it also highlighted the deep divisions in American society regarding slavery, setting the stage for future conflicts as more states were admitted into the Union.
• In what ways did the geographical boundaries established by the Missouri Compromise influence future debates on slavery and territorial expansion?
  • The geographical boundaries established by the Missouri Compromise created a clear demarcation line at 36°30′ north latitude for slavery in new territories. This line influenced future debates by providing a framework for determining where slavery could be permitted or prohibited, affecting political negotiations around new states. However, this division also fueled sectional rivalries and was challenged by later legislation like the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed settlers to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, thus complicating previous agreements.
• Evaluate how the Missouri Compromise reflects broader trends in American society regarding labor systems and their evolution leading up to the Civil War.
  • The Missouri Compromise reflects broader trends in American society regarding labor systems by highlighting the contentious debates surrounding slavery as a labor system versus emerging free labor ideologies. As the nation expanded westward, the question of whether new territories would adopt slave or free labor systems became increasingly divisive. The compromise marked a critical moment where political solutions were sought to address these tensions but ultimately exposed the deep-seated conflicts that would lead to more radical confrontations over labor systems and ultimately contribute to the Civil War.

Related terms

Compromise of 1850: A series of legislative measures aimed at resolving disputes over slavery in territories acquired during the Mexican-American War, including the admission of California as a free state.

Kansas-Nebraska Act: An 1854 law that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to determine through popular sovereignty whether to allow slavery, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise.

Dred Scott Decision: An 1857 Supreme Court ruling that declared African Americans were not citizens and had no standing to sue, and that Congress had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories, further inflaming tensions.